Marie L. Swartzbaugh, age 94, a resident of Wheaton, IL, and formerly of Allen Park, MI, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 15, 2015, at DuPage Convalescent Center in Wheaton, Illinois. She was born August 21, 1920 in Philadelphia, PA to Harold and Louise Downes.

She attended nursing school at Abington Hospital in Abington, PA. Immediately upon graduation she joined the U.S. Army during WWII as an Army nurse. She served overseas nursing wounded American soldiers and also nursed captured Italian and German POWs. While in the Army, she met Ken Swartzbaugh and they were married in 1945. After the war they moved to the Detroit area where they started a family. Marie lived in Allen Park until moving to the Wheaton area in 2005.

While living in Allen Park, she helped to found the Allen Park Symphony, was a member of Allen Park Presbyterian Church and worked as a nurse at the Allen Park Convalescent Center.

She was a lifelong musician and traveled extensively in her later years. She enjoyed spending time with her family and was always looking forward what was coming next. She always had a positive outlook and carried that attitude her entire life.

She is survived by three daughters, Faye (Jerry) Le Grand of Newman Lake, WA, Lori (Brian) DellaVedova of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, and Jan (Michael) Jones of Wheaton, IL, six grandchildren, Jamie, Ryan, Carly, Ben, Rebe and Nate, two great-grandchildren, Nick and Daphne, one sister, Dot (Wally) Curry of New Bern, NC, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her son Craig in 1975.

A memorial service will be on July 18 at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel at Allen Park Presbyterian Church, 7101 Park Ave., Allen Park, MI. Friends may visit with the family from 10:30 a.m. until the service begins.

Memorial gifts may be directed to the Wounded Warrior Project or Paralyzed Veterans of America.

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.